Device for draining, measuring, and canning oysters, etc.



June 11, 1929.

DEVICE FOR -DRAINING, MEASURING, AND CANNING OYSTERS, ETC

G. H. FREDERICK 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 14, 1923 61 ff FHEDERZCX EJLLWLW- 'JUI16 11, 1929. FREDERICK 1,716,771

AND CANNING OYSTERS, ETC

DEVICE FOR DRAINING, MEASURING,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1923 N 0H J L Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES GEORGE H. FREDERICK, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

DEVICE FOR nnnrnrive, MEASURING, AND CANNING OYSTERS, ETC.

Application filed November 14, 1923. Serial No. 674,741.

This invention relates to devices for pre paring and packaging oysters and the like, and especially to the combination of devices for draining, measuring and canning oysters etc.

The main object of this invention is to provide a comparatively simple device which is exceedinglyconvenient, effective and accurate in the operation of preparing shucked oysters for shipment or local sale in measured quan tities.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character that consists of an inseparable unit which can be operated by inexperienced persons without danger of being put out of working order by such person.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which has all its interior parts accessible to a stream of water from a hose, so it can be easily and thoroughly cleaned or washed without subjecting external objects to the stream or spray of water from the hose.

A further object is to provide a device of this kind with such simple and convenient attachments and accessories that enables it to be used for dispensing oysters or other material (independently of the measuring containers and without putting any oysters therein) into other containers which may be measuring or non-measuring.

A further object is to provide a frame structure which includes upwardly flared seats for the downwardly converging lower ends of the measuring receptacles, and also includes horizontal slots that serve as seats and guides for the gates which close and open the bottoms of the measuring receptacles.

A further object is to provide an improved and exceedingly convenient means for opening all the gates simultaneously and closing themsimultaneously or in unison.

Other objects or important features will be pointed out or implied in the following details of description, in, connection with the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the device, parts of its gate-operating mechanism being broken off Fig. 2 is a side elevation, the lower ends of its legs being broken off; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the end shown at the left of Figs. 1 and 2, its left-side legs being broken off; Fig. 4 is an elevation of the end opposite to that shown in Fig. 3, its right-side legs being broken oif, also the top of its operating handle; Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view,

the section being in line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the plate or auxiliary memher that covers the measuring containers or strains the liquid into these containers while excluding the oysters therefrom, this being a modification of the imperforate plate which covers the measuring containers in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is aplan view of the gates and their connecting rod and links, one of the latter being in horizontal section; Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail, in vertical section, of the gateseat and measuring container seat of one of these containers which is shown seated therein; Fig. 9 is a fragmental plan view of a modification wherein are arranged two dozen measuring containers such, for instance, as quart measures.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the position of the operating handle is such that the gates are closed, but in Figs. 4: and 5 the gates are. open. Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Considered broadly, irrespective of its removable or attachable adjuncts, the device comprises an open-top receptacle or pan 10 whose bottom includes a substantially level part 11 and a slightly inclined part 12, the lower end of the latter being integral or fixedly united with the part 11, the part 12 being perforated to permit liquid to pass therethrough while preventing oysters from passing therethrough, the inclination of this part belng so slight that the drained oysters will not gravitate onto the part 11, but the mixed oysters and liquid will flow down its incline, draining as they flow, and stopping at the lower edge of this straining part of the pans bottom, thus leaving a clear space at the up per part of the strainer or part 12 for the application of a paddle or scoop without mashing the oysters with the latter. It also comprises openings 14 through the bottom of the part 11, and the measuring receptacles 15 have their upper ends united with the part 11 at the margins of the openings 14, respectively, these receptacles having openable lower ends, being providedwith gates 16. And italso comprises a frame 17 which supports the pan and measuring receptacles at such elevation that the vending or shipping cans or containers' C can be placed under and removed from under the measuring containers so as to receive the oysters when the gates 16 are opened; but it might be well to here explain that before the gates are opened, the drained oysters are scooped or pushed from the lower part of the strainer 12 onto the part 11 and thence into the measuring containers, and after leveling these measures of oysters to the plane of the part 11, the residue is scooped or paddled back to the foot of the strainer 12, whereupon the gates are opened by the opera.- tor of this device, then immediately closed by him, and he proceeds to refill the measures 15.

The gates are preferably of non-corrosive sheet metal and are preferably of the form more clearly shown in Fig. 7, viz, two or more gates being formed integrally of a single sheet which is provided with openings 16 that move into and out of register with the openings in the bottoms of the measuring containers, the imperforate parts of these plates being movable into position for closing the lower ends of the measuring containers. Each plate or multiple gate 16 is connected to the other plate or plates 16 by means of a rod 18 which is secured to one of the plates 16 at 18 and passes through tubular end portions of this and the other plates 16. An operating member, or actuator for the gates, includes a shaft 19 which is journalled on the frame 17, a handle 20 secured to the shaft- 19, two arms 21 secured to this shaft, and two links 22 pivotally secured to the respective arms 21, these links also being pivotally secured on the rod 18. The parts 19, 20 and 21 combine to form a lever, and the swing of this lever is limited by shoulders 23 and 2 1 of the frame 17.

A very important feature of this invention is shown more clearly in Figs. and 8, this being the frame element 25 which is slotted at 26 to provide seats and guides for the gates. This member is preferably formed of primarily separate upper and lower sections which are bolted or riveted to one another after the gate-seats are formed and planed or dressed to a smooth and accurate finish. Above the slots 26 is formed the annular and upwardly flaring seats 27 for the downwardly converging lower ends of the measures 15, while below the slots are formed depending annular flanges which direct the sters into the cans while avoiding the liquid from wetting the lower surface of the member 25. The advantages of the downwardly converging lower ends of the measures would appear to be obvious with regard to the arrangement of these measuresand their gates in a very compact and convenient unit; but an additional. advantage resides in this arrangement co-operating to support the part 11 in its proper plane or level. If the measures were not thus supported, they and their contents of oysters, and the possible additional pressure on the part 11 by the operator or other person, would cause the part 11 to sag more and more from time to time, thus not only affecting its accuracy in gaging the level of oysters in the measures, but would also defleet the lower ends of the measures laterally so they would not dispense the oysters properly, even if the gates would not be so distorted as to render them inoperative. These seats not only prevent downward movement of the measuring receptacles, but also prevent their lateral movement. The ends of the supporting plate are secured to posts or uprights 28 and 29, the latter constituting the front leg-members which combine with the leg members 30 for supporting all other elements of the device. The member 25 may be formed with one or more stiffening ribs 25 The front leg members are connected to one another by horizontal cross beams 31, 32 and 33 (Figs. 3 and 5). The rear leg members are connected to one another by horizontal cross beams 3 1 and 35 (Figs. 1 and 5), and the uprights 28 are connected to one another by a cross beam 36. The member 25 is secured to and supported by the beams 32 and 36. The front and rca pairs of leg members are connected by longitudinally extending horizontal beams 31 and 38 to which the lower and upper ends of the members 28 are secured. These fran'ie elements 28 to 38 inclusive are preferably straight angle irons bolted or riveted together in a rigid cubical open structure. The pan 10 rests on the inwardly extending flanges of the beams 33 and 38, and the front and rear corners of the pan are embraced by the uppcr ends of the front and rear leg members whose inner angular spaces receive the pans corners and prevent lateral movement of the pan.

A ii'ui'mel 39 is under the strainer 12 and has its upper margin united with downward extensions of the pans walls, as seen at -10 and 451, the latter having an opening 12 therein for adn'iitting a hose or stream of water to be directed against the under surface of the strainer and inner surface of the funnel. The walls lt) prevent the water from spouting on or spraying external objects while thus washing these parts. A shelf or table 43 is supported by the beams 34 and 37 at a suilicient distance under the funnel to permit a large can or tank T to be supported thereon under the funnel, for receiving the liquid from the strainer and funnel.

A cross beam 44: is secured to and supported by the beams 37, and the beam 31 combines therewith to support a pair of angle irons or angle beams 45 whose lower flanges extend inward and whose outer flanges extend upward, this forming a ch a nnel-traek, as shown in Fig. 3, whicn receives and guides the can-carrying trays one of which is shown at 46. These trays are of a size to hold enough (and no more) cans that will correspond llOtllG measures 15 in capacity and number, and such tray-load of cans can not be placed under the measures except by passing the tray from front to rear along the channel-track 4l54t5. Its rearward movement is limited by the cross ill beam 4 1, so it can not be removed except in the forwarddirection. Therefore, by attach ing any ordinary registering device (not shown) to the frame, in the path of the trays 4&6, the tray-loads will be automatically counted while the cans of each tray are automatically counted by filling the trays, respectively.

A shelf or table 46 is supported by a forward extension of the frame, and the trays are rested on the same preparatory to being passed into the channel-track. This is also convenient for supporting the trays of filled cans when removed from the channel-track, preparatory to getting a more secure hold on the trays while carrying them or placing them on a truck or the like. However, this shelf has another use, viz, holding a receptacle (which is too large to be placed under the measures 15) under a spout 47 through which oysters may be caused to pass from the pan 10. A. gate 48 is provided to prevent oysters from passing out of this spout when it is not to be used; but when it is to be used, the gate 18 is removed.

A cover-plate 49 (Fig. 5) or 4:9" (Fig. 6) is placed over the measures 15 when they are to be rendered ineffective while the spout 4:7 is being used. The bottom of the pan 10 is provided with a forwardly extending flange 50 that overlies the rear end of the plate 49 or 19 during its use. By raising the front end of the plate and pulling it forward, it is disengaged from the flange 50 and can be removed. The flange 50 holds the plate 49 or 49 in its proper place and prevents oysters from being pushed under the cover plate. The plate 4.9 may be perforated either as shown or throughout its extent, its perforations 19" providing strainers over the receptacles 15, so that the oysters will be well drained while being quickly passed from the rear end of the pan to its front end, thus avoiding the necessity of passing the oysters back and forth on the strainer as is sometimes necessary when desirable to deposit exceptionally well drained oysters in the cans under the measures 15.

Concaved fillers 51 are secured in the corners of the pan to facilitate the manipulation of the oysters in the pan.

It is not intended to limit my invention to the exact details of construction and arran ement shown, but changes may be made wit 1- in the scope of the inventive ideas as implied and claimed.

lVh-at I claim as my invention is:

1. In a device for preparing oysters for shipment in measured quantities, the combination of a pan whose bottom includes a strainer and a substantially level part having an opening therethrough, a measuring receptacle having its top coinciding with said opening, a supporting frame on which said pan and measuring receptacle are secured,

said frame including a horizontal plate having a horizontal slot and an upwardly flared opening therethrough, the lower end of said measuring receptacle being downwardly converging and seated in the upwardly flared opening, and a gate slidable in said slot and adapted to open and close the lower end of saidL measuring receptacle, a funnel under said strainer, the walls of said pan extending below said strainer and uniting with the upper margin of said funnel.

2. In a device for measuring and canning oysters or the like, the combination of a pan whose bottom includes a substantially level platform having therethrough oyster outlet openings, a strainer slightly inclined towards said oyster outlet openings, a funnel under said strainer, the walls of said pan extending below said strainer and uniting with the upper margin of said funnel, measuring receptacles having open upper ends coinciding respectively with said oyster outlet openings, a frame supporting said pan and including an element engaged with the lower ends of the measuring receptacles in the relation for supporting them and preventing their movement with relation to one another, gates to open and close the lower ends of the measuring receptacles, and means on the frame for moving the gates in unison to the closing position and in unison to the opening position.

3. In a device for measuring and canning Oysters or the like, the combination of a pan whose bottom includes a substantially level platform having therethrough oyster outlet openings and a strainer slightly inclined towards said oyster outlet openings, measuring receptacles having open upper ends coinciding respectively with said oyster outlet openings, a frame supporting said pan and including an element engaged with the lower ends of the measuring receptacles in the relation for supporting them and preventing their movement with relation to one another, gates to open and close the lower ends of the measuring receptacles, and means on the frame for moving the gates in unison to the closing position and in unison to the opening position, said pan having a spout at one side and having an outlet through one wall to communicate with said spout, a gate to close the said outlet when the spout is not to be used during use of the measuring receptacles, and a cover plate for covering the openings of the upper ends of the measuring receptacles when the spout is to be used exclusive of the measuring receptacles.

t. In a device for preparing oysters for shipment in measured quantities, the combination of a pan whose bottom includes a strainer and a substantially level part having an opening therethrough, a measuring receptacle having its top coinciding with said opening, a supporting frame on which said pan and measuring receptacle are seeured, said frame including a horizontal plate having a horizontal slot and an upwardly flared opening therethrough, the lower end of said measuring receptacle being downwardly eoi'lverging and seated in the upwardly flared opening, and a gate slidable in said slot and adapted to open and close the lower end of said measuring receptacle, a funnel under said strainer, the walls of said pan extending said strainer for permitting a stream of water 15 to have access to the lower side of the strainer and the inside of the funnel.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE H. FREDERICK. 

